Turn Off Ads?
Results 1 to 11 of 11

Thread: What a Difference a Nine Months Makes

  1. #1
    Member
    Join Date
    May 2002
    Posts
    797

    What a Difference a Nine Months Makes

    I’m nearly certain that this is presumptuous and myopic, and I’ll probably regret saying this. . . But if there is one sentence everyone should take away from the post, it is this:

    All the evidence I need about the Reds’ chances of winning the 2013 World Series is available in two recent stretches in Cincinnati – the Reds/Giants series of October 9-11, 2012, and the first three games of the Reds/Giants series, July 1-4, 2013.
    I can barely stand to look at the old box scores – and I haven’t dared to re-watch the games – from the Reds/Giants three-game series in Cincinnati in October, 2012. It is still too raw for me. But I couldn’t help engaging in a quick comparison between this week’s first three games with the Giants and the Cincinnati-based games of that October 2012 series, especially when the outcomes were dramatically different.

    This Reds team is so money, and they don’t even know it. At least, not yet.

    Here’s a simple compare/contrast of these two series:

    *Homer’s ace performance wasn’t wasted in 2013. (See Oct 9, July 2.) In fact, it was the difference-maker in the July 2, 2013 game.
    *Bruce Bochy and his voodoo tactics (e.g., aggressive hook with his starters)—see Oct 9, July 3—were irrelevant to the outcomes of his team’s games in 2013.
    *Is Dr. Choo the kryptonite to Bochy’s voodoo trance? He was awesome last night and provided the game-winning RBI tonight.
    *Buster Posey’s clutch magic (see Oct 11) made no difference in 2013 (see July 2, 3).
    *Dusty’s confidence in his starters benefitted him in 2013 (see July 2), but cost him in 2012 (see Oct 11).
    *The injury to Cueto (again) didn’t matter in 2013, but it limited the Reds’ options in 2012.
    *Sergio Romo and Lincecum (Oct 9 and 10 winning pitchers, respectively) were neutered and impotent (respectively) in 2013.
    *Chapman was electric tonight. My theory is that he needs marble-sized sweat beads and mid-summer, global-warming heat (a la Cuba) to aid in his effectiveness.
    *The Reds out-hit and out-OPS’ed the Giants in both three-game sets – take a guess which series the Reds won.

    It is only a few games, but this is good evidence.

    At this point, the primary obstacle standing in the way of the Reds' postseason greatness is "Big Brother." You all know which team I'm referring to.


  2. Turn Off Ads?
  3. #2
    "So Fla Red"
    Join Date
    Apr 2001
    Location
    South Florida
    Posts
    5,629

    Re: What a Difference a Nine Months Makes

    I get the feeling this team will struggle more during the rest of this regular season and won't approach 97 wins, but that the Reds would be a much bigger threat in the playoffs this time around with experience and assuming Cueto, Broxton, Marshall and Ludwick come back healthy. Hoping to avoid the 50/50 wildcard game, but that's life in a tough division.

  4. #3
    Member harangatang's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Posts
    1,573

    Re: What a Difference a Nine Months Makes

    I felt the Reds were a CFer away from making a run last year. The Giants aren't playing near as well as last year, but Choo certainly stepped up big tonight.

  5. #4
    Member Tom Servo's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Chicago, IL
    Posts
    35,017

    Re: What a Difference a Nine Months Makes

    The Reds should have won Game 3, damnit. Probably not going to be over it until they make a World Series, and maybe not even then.
    “I don’t care,” Votto said of passing his friend and former teammate. “He’s in the past. Bye-bye, Jay.”

  6. Likes:

    LexRedsFan (07-05-2013),thatcoolguy_22 (07-04-2013)

  7. #5
    Member reds44's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Chicago
    Posts
    29,517

    Re: What a Difference a Nine Months Makes

    Quote Originally Posted by harangatang View Post
    I felt the Reds were a CFer away from making a run last year. The Giants aren't playing near as well as last year, but Choo certainly stepped up big tonight.
    The Reds win the Giants series with a healthy Cueto. Who knows what happens with a healthy Votto.
    Quote Originally Posted by Scooter View Post
    A little bit off topic, but do you guys think that Jesse Winker profiles more like Pete Rose or is he just the next Hal Morris??

  8. #6
    Moderator The Operator's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Del Davis Tree Farm
    Posts
    8,474

    Re: What a Difference a Nine Months Makes

    Quote Originally Posted by Tom Servo View Post
    The Reds should have won Game 3, damnit. Probably not going to be over it until they make a World Series, and maybe not even then.
    Same here.

    I was at Game 3 and it was so cool to watch Homer dominate the way he did. And then comes an error behind Broxton who gives up the go-ahead run and that was that.

    I'll never forget how somber and sad the entire crowd was leaving the park that night. I know for me personally it felt like I'd been punched square in the chest.
    Quote Originally Posted by BCubb2003 View Post
    Don't worry. I'd say the game threads are about league average.
    Phil Castellini puts the FUN in Trust Fund.

  9. #7
    Member RollyInRaleigh's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2000
    Posts
    15,738

    Re: What a Difference a Nine Months Makes

    It was a long ride home to Indy that night.

  10. Likes:

    RedEye (07-04-2013)

  11. #8
    Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Posts
    973

    Re: What a Difference a Nine Months Makes

    Quote Originally Posted by The Operator View Post
    Same here.

    I was at Game 3 and it was so cool to watch Homer dominate the way he did. And then comes an error behind Broxton who gives up the go-ahead run and that was that.

    I'll never forget how somber and sad the entire crowd was leaving the park that night. I know for me personally it felt like I'd been punched square in the chest.
    Yep, I was there too..... close enough to see the hop. I STILL believe Rolen makes that play 99-100 times. It just wasn't meant to be, but it still stings.

  12. #9
    Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2002
    Location
    Calgary, Alberta, aka, the most prosperous city in the world.
    Posts
    13,308

    Re: What a Difference a Nine Months Makes

    That's what she said.....

  13. Likes:

    Raisor (07-04-2013),Tom Servo (07-04-2013)

  14. #10
    Member LexRedsFan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Lexington, Kentucky
    Posts
    610

    Re: What a Difference a Nine Months Makes

    Quote Originally Posted by The Operator View Post
    Same here.

    I was at Game 3 and it was so cool to watch Homer dominate the way he did. And then comes an error behind Broxton who gives up the go-ahead run and that was that.

    I'll never forget how somber and sad the entire crowd was leaving the park that night. I know for me personally it felt like I'd been punched square in the chest.
    I was there too. I told my girlfriend after that game "it's over. They're done. Sometimes you can just tell these things. They had to win tonight because they aren't winning tomorrow with whoever they throw, and then in game 5 San Fran will have too much momentum."

    Sigh.

  15. #11
    Member mikdavrut's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    290

    Re: What a Difference a Nine Months Makes

    I guess I was the opposite of a lot of you guys. I was listening to the game on the radio, driving back to Kentucky from a work related trip to Indianapolis. It did break my heart a little that Homer did not get the W that night after pitching such a GEM of a game, but I STILL thought that we were going to pull out that series. I was optimistic, after beating them quite soundly for the 1st 2 games (and IN SF at that) and losing one that I felt as though they, in a sense, "stole" from us, that we could take one of the next 2. Of course, when I heard that Leake was going to be the SP for game 4, I admittedly was a bit pessimistic going into that game (and it sure didn't take long for my pessimism to show signs of reality either). BUT, knowing that Latos was going to pitch game 5 and knowing how fiercely Latos HATES the Giants, I felt REALLY GOOD about that game and our chances. I felt as though Latos and the team behind him would come out with all guns 'a blazing and pull off a gem of a game.

    Yes, sadly (oh so VERY sadly ) Buster Posey snatched all hope from my optimism. I had just taken off of work early so I could get home and catch as much of the game as I could. Maybe I should have just stayed at work, as, just as soon as I walked in and turned the TV on, Posey knocked that grand slam. Maybe had I simply stayed at work and kept my fingers crossed, it never happens ). All I know is that it was such a heartbreaking moment...basically RUNNING into my house and turning the TV on...and then...BOOOOOM.

    I have yet to stop contemplating what would have happened had (a). Cueto not gotten injured (though regardless, I personally STILL (and always will believe) that we should have won that series in 3. And (b). how far would we have advanced HAD we won that series. Would we have survived the Cardinals in the NLCS? I think (had we survived the Giants...THEN survived the Cards), the Tigers would have certainly been more than doable to bring the Commissioner's Tropy back where it belongs.

    Yeah, I guess my heart is still a bit broken. Might take me a while to get over that one. Hurt SO BAD because I just KNEW that we were gonna win that series against the Giants after pounding them at home for the first 2 games. And once again, if my memory is serving me correctly, I think that was the 1st time a team had come back in the NLDS, in a 5 games series, from a deficit of 0-2. Of course, much like getting embarrassed in the 1st playoff game in 2010, suffering a no-hitter at the hands of Halladay, only the 2nd in the history of the game (and then embarrassing ourselves via committing several blunders in the second game of that series , one which we absolutely SHOULD have won), it pains me that the Reds were, once again, on the wrong side of a "historical event" - both ultimately with aforementioned heartbreaking ramifications for myself (and many others I am certain).

    No, I did not really go into that series with the Phillies in 2010 feeling as though the odds favored the Reds. But as I have mentioned, I do at least try to be an optimist and I DID have at least a modicum of faith that we could pull off the upset. So yes, even though it did not hurt me nearly as much as last years Giants series, it STILL hurt.

    Always TRYING to be the eternal optimist, I'm simply hoping that THIS year, they not only MAKE the darn playoffs, but proceed beyond the first round. THAT would certainly help ease some of the pain. Make it to the world series, and I think a lot of the pieces of my heart that were broken will have found the proper glue for at least some semi-solid repair. Bring home the Commissioner's Trophy and a nice smattering of those beautiful rings, I promise, I'll quickly learn to put '10 and '12 out of my mind
    Last edited by mikdavrut; 07-05-2013 at 01:44 AM.


Turn Off Ads?

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Board Moderators may, at their discretion and judgment, delete and/or edit any messages that violate any of the following guidelines: 1. Explicit references to alleged illegal or unlawful acts. 2. Graphic sexual descriptions. 3. Racial or ethnic slurs. 4. Use of edgy language (including masked profanity). 5. Direct personal attacks, flames, fights, trolling, baiting, name-calling, general nuisance, excessive player criticism or anything along those lines. 6. Posting spam. 7. Each person may have only one user account. It is fine to be critical here - that's what this board is for. But let's not beat a subject or a player to death, please.

Thank you, and most importantly, enjoy yourselves!


RedsZone.com is a privately owned website and is not affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds or Major League Baseball


Contact us: Boss | Gallen5862 | Plus Plus | Powel Crosley | RedlegJake | The Operator